Suffragette leader Susan B. Anthony said, "Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputations ... can never effect a reform."

Cautious, careful bridge players, always passing to preserve their plus scores, will rarely do well.

Sometimes you will have to decide between a brave bid and a pusillanimous pass (or underbid). Far more often than not, the courageous call will work better.

This deal from a social game is an example. After North opened three clubs, South nearly jumped to five clubs to stop West from bidding four spades. But South decided that he might buy it in four hearts, and that was more likely to make than five clubs. (Note that five clubs can go down three if East leads his heart. The defenders can take one spade, one diamond, one club and two heart ruffs.)

What should West do?

There are three choices: pass, double or bid four spades. Pass is cautious. Double suggests only four spades, not five. Four spades on such a weak suit gambles on finding partner with support. However, I think West should bravely bid four spades. And if it goes pass-pass-double-all pass and down several tricks, too bad!

At the table, West passed. Yes, four hearts went down one, declarer losing one trick in each suit. (His third club went on dummy's diamond king.) But four spades would have made easily, losing one spade, one heart and one diamond.

If the opponents bid four hearts without the normal high-card values and you might overcall four spades, do so

. ** ** **

COPYRIGHT: 2012, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE
DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL UCLICK FOR UFS